The Cross-Party Parliamentary Group of Malaysia on Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption (KRPPM-IGAR) has expressed concern over the overall progress of at least four proposed institutional and legal system reforms.

Group chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh today said one “easy” proposal that did not make it to the Dewan Rakyat this year was to re-enact the Parliamentary Services Act, formally repealed in 1992.

“That is quite strange. When I see the minister did not mention the Act (in the Dewan Rakyat) that means it would only be next year,” the Ledang MP said in reference to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said.

“Last year she said it would be (tabled) this year,” he said when met in Parliament.

In March, at the first Dewan Rakyat sitting this year, Azalina indicated that the PSA is “90 percent complete” with its draft laws already prepared.

In August, Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul warned that lawmakers who fail to attend Dewan Rakyat sessions for a certain period risk losing their allowances once the PSA comes into effect.

Four reforms to be top priority

The government had previously proposed eight legal and institutional reforms. Four of which, including the PSA, were prioritised for implementation within its first two years in power.

Syed Ibrahim (above, centre) today said the most difficult of the four was to separate the roles and powers of the attorney-general and public prosecutor.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said

“We see the challenges as it will involve a new institution and that comes with issues of new appointments, new positions and terms of reference.

“Now empirical and technical studies are being done with a targeted two-year timeframe (since last year), but if possible we want it expedited,” he said.

Last month, Azalina said the separation must be done responsibly and cannot be rushed.

This prompted former law minister Zaid Ibrahim to take a swipe at the bipartisan “study tours” to Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, led by Azalina.

Other than the PSA and separation of powers, two other targeted reforms are amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2009 and the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act.